Durbin challenger: U.S. needs to add nuclear plants

Wednesday

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Steven Sauerberg used the Byron nuclear plant Tuesday as a backdrop to call for new investment in nuclear generation of electricity nationwide.

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Steven Sauerberg used the Byron nuclear plant Tuesday as a backdrop to call for new investment in nuclear generation of electricity nationwide.

“We can help lower gas prices and move toward energy independence by encouraging the expansion of nuclear power,” Sauerberg said. “Any candidate or elected official who is serious about reducing our reliance on foreign oil has to support the expansion of nuclear power. There is no realistic path to energy independence in the near future that doesn’t include nuclear power.”

Sauerberg’s energy plan calls for hundreds of nuclear plants to be built nationwide as part of an overall strategy to become energy independent. Other aspects of his plan involve wind and solar power, and increased drilling for oil. The Sauerberg plan would open the controversial Yucca Mountain site in Nevada for nuclear waste storage, something that has to be done before new nuclear plants can be built, Lynne Senne of Sauerberg’s campaign said.

Sauerberg criticized Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., his opponent in the Nov. 4 election, saying Durbin has not advocated for more nuclear power.

Durbin spokeswoman Christina Angarola rejected Sauerberg’s charge, saying that while Durbin supports an important role for nuclear power, “he wants more research on safe storage and disposal of nuclear waste and a plan for the safe transportation of the waste before expanding our dependence on nuclear power.

“Anyone calling for literally ‘hundreds’ of new nuclear power plants, as Sauerberg has, without a plan for safe transportation, storage and disposal of waste is not serious about engaging in an honest, forthright discussion of the issue or doesn’t understand the scope of the challenges we face,” she said.

Angarola said Durbin has fought for expansion of alternative energy “long before it was popular to do so. This summer, he pushed for an alternative-energy tax credit that would have jump-started several projects across Illinois, but on two separate occasions the Republicans killed it. His priorities are to expand clean, renewable sources of energy, create good jobs and reduce our dependence on foreign oil in the process.”

Chuck Sweeny can be reached at (815) 987-1372 or csweeny@rrstar.com.

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